Newcastle United need to keep the momentum up when Fulham come to town in the Premier League on Saturday.
A run of home games could help change the mood at Newcastle United this season and Eddie Howe’s side made a fine start on Tuesday night.
Indeed, Newcastle United beat Benfica 3-0 in the Champions League to lift morale following an entirely predictable defeat away at Brighton on Saturday.
They now face the visit of Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday and must strike while the iron is hot.
With that in mind, Howe would be foolish to drop two of his starting players from Tuesday night even with his rotational policy in mind.
Jacob Murphy playing for Newcastle United against Wolves.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Jacob Murphy and Jacob Ramsey must start for Newcastle United against Fulham
Jacob Murphy and Jacob Ramsey simply must start on Saturday.
Howe ruthlessly took Anthony Elanga and Joelinton off at half-time away at Brighton and the aforementioned duo brought about an improvement. They weren’t perfect but offered much more than the pair they replaced.
Against Benfica, they both started and made contributions. Ramsey played well for Newcastle against Benfica, while Murphy recorded an assist for Anthony Gordon once again.
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Gordon has revealed he “loves” playing alongside Murphy and would benefit from keeping the same team. He’s yet to build any meaningful connection with Elanga and while that will hopefully come, Murphy looks the better option right now.
So much has been made about the lack of service for Nick Woltemade but the big German continues to score. What Newcastle need to do next is bring the best out of Gordon in the Premier League and playing Murphy – with whom he has combined for six goals in 63 appearances – seems a much better way of unlocking that door.
The Newcastle United star Eddie Howe needs to drop against Fulham
Dropping anyone who played against Benfica would be harsh. Still, Sandro Tonali should come back in for Lewis Miley.
Howe loved Miley’s performance for Newcastle against Benfica, but Tonali is simply too important to leave out if he has fully recovered from the bug that saw him confined to the bench on Tuesday night.
Finally afforded something of a rest after playing in almost every available minute of Newcastle’s busy campaign thus far, Tonali is too good to overlook when healthy.
It’s harsh on Miley but his time will come. Newcastle have to beat Fulham after a mixed domestic campaign thus far and have a much better chance of doing so with Tonali in the side.